Slide show navigation

ABSTRACT

A slide show, integrated into an email application, displays images such as those included as an attachment to an email message. The user can view the slide show without exiting the email application. Slide show navigation controls are provided. An index sheet mode can be activated wherein a number of thumbnails are displayed, allowing easy navigation to any image within the slide show. Transition animations can be provided for clarifying operations such as activating and dismissing the index sheet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority from the following provisional patent application, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference:

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/642,153 for “Slide Show Navigation,” filed Jan. 7, 2005 (attorney docket number 9908).

The present invention is related to the following pending utility patent applications, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/877,968 for “Unified Interest Layer for User Interface,” filed Jun. 24, 2004 (attorney docket number 8957);

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/465,855 for “Computer Interface Having a Virtual Single-L ayer Mode for Viewing Overlapping Objects,” filed Jun. 20, 2003;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/689,687 for “Computer Interface Having a Virtual Single-Layer Mode for Viewing Overlapping Objects,” filed Oct. 22, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to displaying images within the context of an application such as an email application, and more particularly to improved techniques for navigating within a series of images such as a slide show.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, there is no convenient way to browse and view a series of image attachments received via email without leaving that email application. Images can appear inline in the body of the email, but browsing through a series of image attachments is restricted to vertically scrolling the body of the email. The presentation size of these image attachments is also restricted to the size of the email application view window, which is typically small. Existing software applications that allow a user to browse and view images, are not generally integrated into email applications. Additionally, a user may have to download and import the images into such software applications in order to view them, but this takes time and is often not desired when the user just wants to quickly see the images in a received email message.

In addition, it is often difficult to navigate within a series of images such as within a slide show. An image may be shown, with arrows for moving forwards and backwards. Such a display does not facilitate instantaneous movement from one image to a second image that is not adjacent to the first. Such a display also fails to provide the user with a sense of the context of the current image within the overall slide show or set of images. There is no easy and convenient way to switch between the full-sized view and a view that reveals context.

Image navigation systems and software often provide a series of thumbnails, allowing the user to click on a thumbnail to see a full-sized version of the corresponding image. However, these schemes still provide no easy way to easily switch between a full-sized view and a view that provides context showing where the image fits within the overall slide show.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved mechanism for navigating within a series of images such as a slide show.

According to one aspect of the present invention, image attachments can be easily viewed without leaving an email application.

According to one aspect of the present invention, images are presented in a manner that provides for easy switching between full-sized and thumbnail view, and that preserves a sense of context so that the user knows where the image fits within the overall slide show. The user can easily switch between modes, and can easily move to any image within the slide show or image series.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the invention provides a full-screen slide show environment, with easy access to instantaneous navigation controls and thumbnails, all accessible directly within an email application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a screen shot depicting an example of an email client application with a slide show button, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a screen shot depicting an example of an image being displayed in a slide show, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a screen shot depicting an example of an index sheet, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a screen shot depicting an example of a transition that takes place after the user has selected a thumbnail from the index sheet, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a screen shot depicting a continuation of the example transition of FIG. 4, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting an example of a software architecture for implementing the present invention according to one embodiment.

One skilled in the art will recognize that these Figures are merely examples of the operation of the invention according to one embodiment, and that other user interface arrangements and modes of operation can be used without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The present invention is now described more fully with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which several embodiments of the invention are shown. The present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the invention to those skilled in the art.

For illustrative purposes, the invention is described in connection with presenting images in an email application for an operating system such as MacOS X from Apple Computer, Inc. Various specific details are set forth herein and in the Figures, to aid in understanding the present invention. However, such specific details are intended to be illustrative, and are not intended to restrict in any way the scope of the present invention. In particular, one skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be used for navigating among images and/or other non-image elements within any type of software application. In addition, one skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be used in connection with any input mechanism for selecting, manipulating, and moving on-screen images, including manipulation of an on-screen cursor using a pointing device, keyboard control, voice control, mouse wheel, touch screen control, or the like, or any combination of the above. In addition, the particular screen layouts, appearance, and terminology as depicted and described herein, are intended to be illustrative and exemplary, and in no way limit the scope of the invention.

In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented in a conventional personal computer system, such as a Macintosh, (available from Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), running an operating system such as MacOS X (also available from Apple Computer, Inc.). The invention may be embodied in software that runs on the personal computer. The invention may be included as add-on software, or it may form part of the operating system itself, or it may be a feature of an application that is bundled with the computer system or sold separately. The various features of the invention as described herein include output presented on a display screen that is connected to the personal computer. In addition, the invention makes use of input provided to the computer system via input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, or the like. Such hardware components, including their operation and interactions with one another and with a central processing unit of the personal computer, are well known in the art of computer systems and therefore are not depicted here. Several Figures are presented as screen shots depicting examples of the user interface as it might appear on a display screen or other output device. In addition, the techniques described herein can be implemented in other types of devices, including cell phones, personal digital assistants, television displays, kiosks, or the like.

User Experience

In one embodiment, the invention operates as follows:

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a screen shot depicting an example of an email client application displaying a message 100. The user receives email message 100 that includes one or more image attachments 102. Slide show button 101 appears in header region 103 of message 100. In one embodiment, button 101 is only presented if message 100 contains images. In other embodiments, other mechanisms for activating a slide show may be provided, including keyboard commands, menu items, or the like.

The user can click on button 101 to initiate a slide show. The computer screen fades to black and then fades into a full screen view of the first image attachment. Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a screen shot depicting an example of an image 201 being displayed in a slide show, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

After a period (for example 3 seconds), the first image 201 fades into the next image attachment in the sequence, and so on until all the images have been viewed. Then, in one embodiment, the slide show repeats.

In an alternative embodiment, the slide show is presented within a window rather than occupying the entire screen. In another alternative embodiment, the slide show is presented in semi-transparent form overlaying the normal desktop display. In one embodiment, any or all of the characteristics of the slide show are configurable by the user (for example, whether it repeats, the size of the presentation, delay between one slide and the next, and the like).

Semi-transparent toolbar cluster 202 (or dock) appears at the bottom of the screen. It contains a series of buttons that allow the user to interact with the slide show. From left to right they are:

-   -   Back: Go to the previous image.     -   Play/Pause: Animate the slideshow from one image to the next, or         pause on the current frame     -   Next: Go to the next image     -   Index Sheet: Show all the images in this slideshow.     -   Full Screen/Actual Size: Toggle between showing the image at its         actual size and showing it scaled up to fit the computer screen     -   Add to iPhoto: Automatically add the current image to iPhoto p1         Exit Slideshow: Exit the full screen slideshow presentation and         return to the application view.         Index Sheet

The Index Sheet button provides quick access to a screen depicting thumbnails. This may be overlaid on the existing desktop, as an opaque screen or a semi-transparent one. In one embodiment, the index sheet can be activated by moving the cursor to a predefined corner of the screen. The index sheet allows a user to easily see the context of the current image within the slide show, and also allows the user to quickly jump to any other image in the slide show.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a screen shot depicting an example of an index sheet 301, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

When the user presses the Index Sheet button in cluster 202 (or otherwise activates the index sheet), the current image 201 animates and scales smaller. At the same time all the other images in the slideshow also animate and scale smaller behind the current image. As the images scale smaller, they align along a position in a grid that reflects the order of the slideshow presentation, as shown in FIG. 3. The first image appears as a thumbnail 302A in the upper left, the next image appears as a thumbnail 302B to the right of the first image, and so on. The spread-out view of all the image thumbnails 302A through 302J forms index sheet 301; it is organized in a rectangular grid akin to a photographic contact sheet that shows a number of images on a single page. In one embodiment, all images are scaled to the same size, or to approximately the same size except for deviations resulting from different aspect ratios. In one embodiment, the size of the thumbnails 302 is selected according to the number of images and the size of the available viewable area. In one embodiment, if there are too many images to show all thumbnails 302 within the viewable area, a scrolling arrangement or other arrangement for viewing subsets of the thumbnails 302 is used. In one embodiment, the size is specified by a user.

In one embodiment, thumbnails 302 are arranged according to the image sequence within the slide show. In one embodiment, the presentation is according to filename (alphabetically), or chronological order by date modified or date created, or size, or some other ordering mechanism. In one embodiment, the user can dynamically select the order.

The user can roll over any thumbnail 302 (in other words, cause the on-screen cursor to hover over the image) to reveal its title 303 and/or to see other information about the image. In one embodiment, such information is shown in a semi-transparent manner superimposed on thumbnail 302 itself, as shown in the example of FIG. 3. In other embodiments, any other technique for displaying such information can be used. Any type of information can be displayed, including for example title, size, date created, date modified, or the like.

Clicking on a thumbnail 302 advances the slide show to that image and exits Index Sheet mode; the selected image animates and scales to full screen size while all the other images appear to scale to full screen size behind the selected image. Alternatively, the non-selected images may shrink until they are invisible, or they may fade to invisibility, or simply disappear as the selected image expands to fill the screen. Alternatively, they may simply appear to move behind the selected image.

FIGS. 4 and 5 depict an example of the transition between index sheet 301 and a full-screen display of image 201A. In FIG. 4, thumbnails 302A through 302J have begun to shift position behind selected image 201A, which has enlarged to full size. In FIG. 5, thumbnails 302A through 302J have moved so that they are almost completely hidden by selected image 201A; they are also stacked on top of one another.

One skilled in the art will recognize that any other transition effect (or no transition effect) can be implemented without deviating from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

Add to iPhoto

At any point in the slide show presentation, the user can press the Add to iPhoto button to automatically add the currently viewed image to a photo management application (such as iPhoto, available from Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif.) without exiting the slide show presentation. In one embodiment, the software displays an animation showing the currently viewed image being sucked into the Add to iPhoto button. This feature allows a user to browse a large series of images, and to easily choose which images he or she would like to import and keep for future use.

The present invention provides a slide show that is accessible from and works within an email application. As such, it does not require the user to leave the email environment in order to view their image attachments in an effective, versatile, full-screen, and pleasant way. In other embodiments, the features described above are provided within other types of applications, such as a file management application, presentation software, word processing software, or the like.

Architecture

In one embodiment, the above-described functionality is implemented as a standalone framework, so that any application or client can generate a user experience such as that described above. The present invention can be implemented in connection with images, PDF documents, text documents, or any other items or elements that can be presented visually.

In one embodiment, the invention is implemented as an application programming interface (API) in objC and/or C, using a known technology such as ImageIO to load images of multiple formats. Image formats include, for example, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or the like. Image inputs can be provided in any of a number of forms that either contain or point to images. Examples include file paths, URLs, NSFileWrappers, NSImages, CGImageRefs, or the like.

In one embodiment, the invention includes a dynamically created user interface that adapts to environmental conditions and/or client feature sets. For example, in one embodiment, an Add to iPhoto button may be made available only if 1) the client application includes functionality for exporting images to iPhoto (i.e., if such an operation makes sense given the nature of the application), and 2) the iPhoto application is installed; otherwise, the Add to iPhoto button is not shown. In other environments or clients, the user interface may include other elements that are appropriate to those environments. For example, when the slide show of the present invention is being used in connection with an image viewer or search function, an Add to Mail button can be provided within the button cluster; when activated, this button would launch an email application and create a new email message with the selected image(s) attached. One skilled in the art will recognize that in other contexts, other buttons and operations would be applicable.

In one embodiment, the present invention displays various types of transitions. For example, when switching from one image to the next (in play mode, or in response to a user command), a distinctive transition may be shown; similarly, when switching from full-sized image mode to thumbnail mode, another transition may be shown. In one embodiment, these transitions are user-configurable. In one embodiment, they are implemented using a known video animation technology, assuming that the hardware video card supports such technology. In one embodiment, multiple transitions are available and can be applied in any combination.

In one embodiment, a particular type of transition and visual effect is used when switching from full-sized image mode to thumbnail mode and vice versa. An affine transform (translate/scale) is applied to position each image during the index transform and in index sheet mode. In one embodiment, the thumbnail display is presented in a semi-transparent window so that underlying elements (such as the desktop or the full-sized image that was being displayed) are visible through the thumbnail display. One skilled in the art will recognize that such visual enhancements are optional, and that the present invention can be implemented using many different types of visual techniques.

In one embodiment, the Add to iPhoto function is performed using AppleScript. The system of the invention keeps track of the images that a user wants to add to iPhoto. Upon quitting or closing the slide show, iPhoto is automatically launched, and the selected images are added to iPhoto under the direction of an AppleScript script.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a block diagram depicting an example of a software architecture for implementing the present invention according to one embodiment. Slideshow framework 600 is software code that implements the invention. Any client application can call upon and interface with framework 600; examples of such applications include an email application 601, search application (such as Apple's Spotlight) 602, viewer application (such as Apple's Preview) 603, or file management component of an operating system (such as Apple's Finder) 604.

Also shown is an example of code 605 that can be used by the calling application to invoke the slide show feature. Also shown is an example of code 606 in framework 600 for interfacing with the calling application.

Examples of header files for use in connection with an implementation of the present invention is as follows: Slideshow.h    #import <AppKit/AppKit.h>    #import <ApplicationServices/ApplicationServices.h>    @class SlideshowPrivateVars;    // Slideshow data source    //---------------------------------------------------- --------------    @interface NSObject(SlideshowDataSource)    // required    − (int)numberOfObjectsInSlideshow;    − (id)slideshowObjectAtIndex: (int)index;    // optional    − (NSString*)slideshowObjectNameAtIndex: (int)index;    − (BOOL)canExportObjectAtIndexToiPhoto: (int)index;    − (void)exportObjectsToiPhoto: (NSIndexSet*)indexSet;    @end    // Slideshow    //---------------------------------------------------- --------------    @interface Slideshow : NSResponder    {       @private       SlideshowPrivateVars * mPrivateData;    }    + (Slideshow*)sharedSlideshow;    + (void)addImageToiPhoto: (id)image;    // To start the Slideshow for images:    // − either use setDataSource/startSlideshow    − (void)setDataSource: (id)dataSource;    − (void)startSlideshow: (id)sender;    //  or use runSlideshowWithDataSource (preferred way)    − (void)runSlideshowWithDataSource: (id)sender options: (NSDiction- ary*)slideshowOptions;    // To start the Slideshow for a PDF:    − (void)runSlideshowWithPDF: (NSURL*)pdfURL options: (NSDiction- ary*)slideshowOptions;    − (void)stopSlideshow: (id)sender;    − (void)noteNumberOfItemsChanged;    − (void)reloadData;    − (int)indexOfCurrentObject;    − (void)setAutoPlayDelay: (float)seconds;    @end    // slideshow option keys:    //---------------------------------------------------- --------------    extern NSString *const SlideshowDontAutoShowMenuBar; // boolean    extern NSString *const SlideshowStartIndex; // number    extern NSString *const SlideshowAutoPlayDelay; // number (in seconds)    extern NSString *const SlideshowPDFDisplayBox; // PDFDisplayBox (see PDFKit)    extern NSString *const SlideshowPDFDisplayMode; // PDFDisplayMode (see PDFKit)    extern NSString *const SlideshowPDFDisplaysAsBook; // boolean    extern NSString *const SlideshowDebugMode; // boolean (if YES - only capture main display)    // notifications a data source may register for:    //---------------------------------------------------- --------------    extern NSString *const SlideshowDidStopNotification;    extern NSString *const SlideshowDidChangeNotification; Export2iPhoto.h    #import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>    @class Export2iPhotoPrivateVars;    @interface Export2iPhoto : NSObject    {       @private       Export2iPhotoPrivateVars * mPrivateData;    }    + (BOOL)canExportToiPhoto;    + (BOOL)isPhotoFile: (id)file       allowConversion: (BOOL)allowFormatConversion;    + (BOOL)exportFile: (id)file; // file can be: NSFileWrapper // NSURL // NSString // NSImage // NSArray of any of the above...    @end SlideshowCarbon.h    #ifndef _SLIDESHOWCARBON_(—)    #define _SLIDESHOWCARBON_(—)    #if PRAGMA_ONCE    #pragma once    #endif    #include <ApplicationServices/ApplicationServices.h>    #ifdef _cplusplus    extern “C” {    #endif    // callbacks    typedef CALLBACK_API_C( UInt32 , SlideshowNumberO- fURLsProc ) ( );    typedef CALLBACK_API_C( CFURLRef , SlideshowCopyURLAt- IndexProc ) (UInt32 index);    typedef CALLBACK_API_C( Boolean, SlideshowCanExpor- tURLAtIndexProc ) (UInt32 index);    typedef CALLBACK_API_C( void, SlideshowDidSwitch- ToIndexNotificationProc ) (UInt32 index);    typedef CALLBACK_API_C( void, SlideshowDidEndNo- tificationProc ) (UInt32 index);    typedef struct SlideshowCallbacks    {       SlideshowNumberOfURLsProc sNumber OfURLsProc;       SlideshowCopyURLAtIndexProc sCopy- URLAtIndexProc;       SlideshowCanExportURLAtIndexProc sCan- ExportURLAtIndexProc;       SlideshowDidSwitchToIndexNotificationProc sDidSwitchToIndexNotificationProc;       SlideshowDidEndNotificationProc sEnd- NotificationProc;    } SlideshowCallbacks;    // Slideshow C APIs    OSStatus SlideshowRunWithOptions(CFDictionaryRef options, SlideshowCallbacks callbacks);    OSStatus SlideshowStop( );    // slideshow option keys:    //---------------------------------------------------- --------------    extern const CFStringRef kSlideshowDontAutoShow- MenuBar;  // boolean    extern const CFStringRef kSlideshowStartIndex; // number    extern const CFStringRef kSlideshowAutoPlayDelay; // number (in seconds)    extern const CFStringRef kSlideshowDebugMode; // boolean (if YES - only capture main display)    #ifdef _cplusplus    }    #endif    #endif /* _SLIDESHOWCARBON_(—) */ Application Programming Interface for objC Client

The following is a description of an application programming inter-face for accessing the functionality of the present invention via an objC client:

SlideshowDataSource Informal Protocol

When a client wants to use the slide show functionality, the client adopts the following informal SlideshowDataSource protocol, using the following two methods: − (int)numberOfObjectsInSlideshow; This method is called by the Slideshow framework to find out the total number of images the client wants to display. − (id)slideshowObjectAtIndex: Called by the Slideshow (int)index; framework, this method is used to get an image for a given index. In one embodiment, the ‘image’ returned can be of one of the following types: NSString (path to image file on disk) NSURL NSFileWrapper NSImage CGImageRef

In one embodiment, the following additional methods are available as well: − (NSString*)slideshowObjectNameAtIndex: This method is called by the Slideshow (int)index; framework if the image returned by slideshowObjectAtIndex is of type NSImage or CGImageRef - these two variants do not contain an image name. If the client does return an NSImage or a CGImageRef and does not implement slideshowObjectNameAtIndex, Slideshow displays a generic (Image #) name in the index mode. − (BOOL)canExportObjectAtIndexToiPhoto: If a client implements this method, (int)index; Slideshow calls canExportObjectAtIndex ToiPhoto to enable/disable the ‘Export to iPhoto’ button. If the client does not implement this method -or- iPhoto is not installed -or- an old (incompatible version) of iPhoto is installed, the ‘Export to iPhoto’ button is not shown in the UI. − (void)exportObjectsToiPhoto: (NSIndex- If the user has used the ‘Add to Set*)indexSet; iPhoto’ action, Slideshow calls the client with an NSIndexSet that contains all indices of the images that should be exported to iPhoto.

The following methods are also provided in the Slideshow API: + (Slideshow*)sharedSlideshow; This class method returns an instance of a Slideshow that can be used to display images or PDFs. + (void)addImageToiPhoto: (id)image; A handy way to add images to iPhoto. It takes as parameter: NSString (path to image file on disk) NSURL NSFileWrapper NSImage CGImageRef NSArray (array of any of the above) − (void)setDataSource: (id)dataSource; One of two ways to start a Slideshow: − (void)startSlideshow: (id)sender; setDataSource followed by startSlideshow. − (void)runSlideshowWithDataSource: A second way to start the Slideshow. (id)sender options: (NSDictionary*) Parameters: slideshowOptions; dataSource options: SlideshowDontAutoShowMenuBar SlideshowStartIndex SlideshowAutoPlayDelay − (void)runSlideshowWithPDF: Used to start a slideshow with a (NSURL*)pdfURL options: (NSDictionary*) PDF. slideshowOptions; Parameters: NSURL of the PDF options SlideshowPDFDisplayBox SlideshowPDFDisplayMode SlideshowPDFDisplaysAsBook − (void)stopSlideshow: (id)sender; Used to abort/stop a slideshow. − (int)indexOfCurrentObject; Allows the client to find out the index of the currently displayed image. − (void)setAutoPlayDelay: (float)seconds; Allows the client to set the auto- play-delay. SlideshowDidStopNotification Notification the client may register for. Called when the Slideshow stops (the user did press the cancel button or hit escape) SlideshowDidChangeNotification Notification the client may register for. Called when the Slideshow changes from one image to another (either in auto-play or in manual previous/ next or via index sheet).

In one embodiment, Export2iPhoto is provided as a helper class used to export images to a photo management application such as iPhoto. It can also be used outside of a running Slideshow. The following methods are provided in the Export2iPhoto API: + (BOOL)canExportToiPhoto Returns YES if iPhoto is installed. It checks also for the correct version of iPhoto. + (BOOL)isPhotoFile: (id)file Returns YES if a given image can be allowConversion: (BOOL) exported to iPhoto. If the image is in allowFormatConversion; a format that iPhoto does not handle directly, the caller has the option to do a format conversion first. + (BOOL)exportFile: (id)file; Exports the given file(s) to iPhoto It takes as parameter: NSString (path to image file on disk) NSURL NSFileWrapper NSImage CGImageRef NSArray (array of any of the above) Application Programming Interface for Carbon Client

The following is a description of an application programming interface for accessing the functionality of the present invention via a Carbon client: OSStatus C API to start the Slideshow with the SlideshowRunWithOptions specified options: (CFDictionaryRef options, kSlideshowDontAutoShowMenuBar SlideshowCallbacks kSlideshowStartIndex callbacks); kSlideshowAutoPlayDelay. callbacks is an array of function pointers that specify the number of images, image location, ... sNumberOfURLsProc: This callback is called by the Slideshow framework to find out the total number of images the client wants to display. sCopyURLAtIndexProc is called to get the image (CFURLRef) at a given index (required). sCanExportURLAtIndexProc This callback is called to find out if the image at a given index can be exported to iPhoto. sDidSwitchToIndexNotificationProc This callback is called to notify client that the user switched to a different image. sEndNotificationProc This callback is called to notify the client that the user has ended the Slideshow. OSStatus SlideshowStop( ); This callback is called by the client to stop the Slideshow (in case the client quits, the computer is shut down, or the like.)

In one embodiment, the present invention employs techniques described in pending U.S. patent applications cross-referenced above.

In particular, in one embodiment the present invention uses transition effects, user control techniques, and semi-transparency effects, similar to those described in the above-referenced patent applications.

In the above description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without these specific details. For example, the present invention can be applied in any type of application, and for displaying any type of data, including image and non-image files. The particular layouts and user interface elements described herein and illustrated in the Figures are examples only.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to a computer system bus.

The algorithms and modules presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatuses to perform the method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the invention as described herein. Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, the modules, features, attributes, methodologies, and other aspects of the invention can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of the three. Of course, wherever a component of the present invention is implemented as software, the component can be implemented as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate programs, as a statically or dynamically linked library, as a kernel loadable module, as a device driver, and/or in every and any other way known now or in the future to those of skill in the art of computer programming. Additionally, the present invention is in no way limited to implementation in any specific operating system or environment.

It will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art that the above-described implementations are merely exemplary, and many changes can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that come within the true spirit and scope of this invention. 

1. A method for displaying a set of images, comprising: responsive to activation of a slide show command within an application, displaying a slide show without dismissing the application; responsive to receiving an index sheet command during the slide show, displaying an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to images within the slide show; responsive to receiving a command to exit the index sheet, resuming the slide show from the previous position; and responsive to user selection of a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed, dismissing the plurality of thumbnail images, and displaying the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application comprises an email application.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to displaying the slide show, receiving a plurality of images via the email application; and wherein the slide show comprises the received images; and wherein the thumbnail images comprise representations of the received images.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving a plurality of images via the email application comprises receiving the plurality of images as email attachments.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to receiving an index sheet command during the slide show, displaying a transition animation prior to displaying the index sheet; and responsive to receiving a command to exit the index sheet, displaying a transition animation prior to resuming the slide show from the previous position; responsive to user selection of a thumbnail while the index sheet is displayed, displaying a transition animation prior to displaying the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a slide show comprises sequentially displaying a series of images; and wherein the thumbnail images represent images in the series.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein sequentially displaying a series of images comprises: a) displaying a first image in the series; and b) responsive to a trigger event, displaying a next image in the series.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: c) repeating b) until all images in the series have been displayed.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising: c) repeating b) until detection of a user command requesting that the slide show stop.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the trigger event comprises user activation of a next command.
 11. The method of claim 7, further comprising: c) responsive to user activation of a previous command, displaying a previous image in the series.
 12. The method of claim 6, wherein sequentially displaying a series of images comprises: a) displaying a first image in the series; and b) after a predefined period of time, displaying a next image in the series.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: c) repeating b) until all images in the series have been displayed.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: c) repeating b) until detection of a user command requesting that the slide show stop.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a slide show comprises displaying a series of images responsive to user control.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying a series of images responsive to user control comprises: responsive to user activation of a play command, sequentially displaying the series of images; responsive to user activation of a pause command, remaining on a currently displayed image until user activation of another command; responsive to user activation of a next command, displaying a next image in the series; responsive to user activation of a previous command, displaying a previous image in the series.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an index sheet command comprises receiving user input activating an index sheet button.
 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to receiving a command to save an image, saving the image in a storage device.
 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to receiving a command to save an image, adding a currently displayed image to an image repository associated with a photo management application.
 20. The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to user input causing a cursor to hover over a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed, displaying descriptive information associated with the thumbnail image.
 21. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying descriptive information associated with the thumbnail image comprises displaying at least one selected from the group consisting of: a file name, a title, a date, a file size, an author, a subject, a text description, an icon, and a compression setting.
 22. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying descriptive information associated with the thumbnail image comprises displaying the descriptive information as an overlay at least partially superimposed on the thumbnail image.
 23. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying descriptive information associated with the thumbnail image comprises displaying the descriptive information as a semi-transparent overlay at least partially superimposed on the thumbnail image.
 24. A method for displaying a set of images within an email application, comprising: receiving an email message within an email application, the email message comprising a plurality of image attachments; displaying the received email message; displaying a representation of the image attachments; and displaying a slide show comprising the image attachments without dismissing the email application.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the received email message comprises displaying a user interface element for activating a slide show.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein displaying a user interface element for activating a slide show comprises displaying a slideshow button.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein displaying a slide show comprises displaying a slide show responsive to user activation of the user interface element.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein displaying a user interface element for activating a slide show comprises displaying the user interface element within the context of the email message.
 29. The method of claim 25, wherein displaying a user interface element for activating a slide show comprises displaying the user interface element within a header of the email message.
 30. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the slide show comprises displaying the slide show within a window associated with the email application.
 31. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the slide show comprises displaying the slide show in a full-screen mode.
 32. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the slide show comprises displaying the slide show as an overlay superimposed on displayed user interface elements.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein displaying the slide show as an overlay comprises displaying the slide show as a semi-transparent overlay superimposed on displayed user interface elements.
 34. A computer program product for displaying a set of images, comprising: a computer-readable medium; and computer program code, encoded on the medium, for: responsive to activation of a slide show command within an application, displaying a slide show without dismissing the application; responsive to receiving an index sheet command during the slide show, displaying an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to images within the slideshow; responsive to receiving a command to exit the index sheet, resuming the slide show from the previous position; and responsive to user selection of a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed, dismissing the plurality of thumbnail images, and displaying the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.
 35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the application comprises an email application.
 36. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer program code for displaying a slide show comprises computer program code for sequentially displaying a series of images; and wherein the thumbnail images represent images in the series.
 37. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer program code for displaying a slide show comprises computer program code for displaying a series of images responsive to user control.
 38. A computer program product for displaying a set of images within an email application, comprising: a computer-readable medium; and computer program code, encoded on the medium, for: receiving an email message within an email application, the email message comprising a plurality of image attachments; displaying the received email message; displaying a representation of the image attachments; and displaying a slide show comprising the image attachments without dismissing the email application.
 39. A user interface for displaying a set of images, comprising: a slide show UI element within an application, for activating display of a slide show without dismissing the application; an index sheet UI element displayed during the slide show, for activating display of an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to images within the slide show; an exit UI element displayed during the index sheet display, for resuming the slide show from the previous position; and wherein user selection of a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed causes dismissal of the plurality of thumbnail images, and display of the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.
 40. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the application comprises an email application.
 41. The user interface of claim 40, wherein the thumbnail images comprise representations of images received by the email application.
 42. A user interface for displaying a set of images within an email application, comprising: an email message display area, for displaying a received email message presented within an email application, the email message comprising a plurality of image attachments; an image attachment display area, for displaying a representation of the image attachments; and a slide show activation UI element, for activating display of a slide show comprising the image attachments without dismissing the email application.
 43. The user interface of claim 42, wherein the slide show activation UI element comprises a slideshow button.
 44. The user interface of claim 43, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within the context of the email message.
 45. The user interface of claim 43, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within a header of the email message.
 46. A system for displaying a set of images, comprising: a slide show UI element within an application, for activating display of a slide show without dismissing the application; an index sheet UI element displayed during the slide show, for activating display of an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to images within the slide show; an exit UI element displayed during the index sheet display, for resuming the slide show from the previous position; and wherein user selection of a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed causes dismissal of the plurality of thumbnail images, and display of the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.
 47. The system of claim 46, wherein the application comprises an email application.
 48. The system of claim 47, wherein the thumbnail images comprise representations of images received by the email application.
 49. A system for displaying a set of images within an email application, comprising: an email message display area, for displaying a received email message presented within an email application, the email message comprising a plurality of image attachments; an image attachment display area, for displaying a representation of the image attachments; and a slide show activation UI element, for activating display of a slide show comprising the image attachments without dismissing the email application.
 50. The system of claim 49, wherein the slide show activation UI element comprises a slideshow button.
 51. The system of claim 50, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within the context of the email message.
 52. The system of claim 50, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within a header of the email message. 